Chelsea Clinton, the 29-year old daughter of former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, has become engaged to her longtime boyfriend, investment banker Marc Mezvinsky.

The couple sent an e-mail to friends Friday announcing the news. They said they were looking at a possible wedding next summer. Matt McKenna, a spokesman for the former president, confirmed the engagement Monday.

Mezvinsky is a son of former Pennsylvania Rep. Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky and former Iowa Rep. Ed Mezvinsky, longtime friends of the Clintons. Ed Mezvinsky was released from federal prison last year after pleading guilty in 2002 to charges of bank and wire fraud.

Tiger Woods on Sunday described the early-morning car accident in which he plowed into a neighbor’s tree as “embarrassing” in his first public statement on the matter, but declined for the third day to speak with Florida Highway Patrol troopers and hired a high-profile criminal-defense lawyer to handle the case for him.

In a statement posted on his Web site Sunday afternoon, Woods accepted responsibility for driving his car into a fire hydrant and tree just outside of his driveway at 2:25 a.m. Friday and said his wife, Elin Nordegren, acted “courageously” to help him. He declined to provide further details, however, calling the incident a “private matter.”

Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle has dismissed reports she’s struggling to cope with the pressures of fame – insisting she has never been happier.

Boyle stormed on to the world stage this year following an appearance on U.K. reality show “Britain’s Got Talent,” and became a fast favorite with the press thanks to her unlikely rise to stardom.

But she sparked fears for her health when The Sun reported that she checked into rehab in London in May to be treated for exhaustion and insomnia just days after she claimed second place in the TV show’s intense finale.

Rumors about Boyle’s fragile emotional state resurfaced last Monday when she was snapped sobbing and sucking her thumb following a New York promotional event for her debut album “I Dreamed A Dream,” which has charged to the top of the charts.

But Boyle is adamant she is happy and healthy.

She tells Britain’s News of the World, “I have never been accepted by the world before. Now I do feel part of it and I find it really exciting.

“I feel very content within myself, and as I’m finally achieving my dream I feel so lucky and privileged.

The 78-year-old, who shot to fame as Captain Kirk on the original 1960s show, admits his memories of the series have been marred by bitter feuds with former cast mates.

Shatner admitted he felt bad after former co-star George Takei failed to invite him to his wedding to longtime partner Brad Altman last year. Meanwhile, Shatner reached a gentleman’s agreement with Leonard Nimoy never to talk Trek in order to salvage their friendship.

But the star insists most of his efforts to mend relationships have been in vain.

He tells the New York Post, “I’ve asked them (my co-stars) numerous times to see if I can assuage their bitterness. I don’t know what their problem is, quite frankly, so I’ve given up on trying to make it better. I don’t like any ill feeling, and if there was something I could do to correct it I would. But nothing seems to work.”

WENN.com Gay actor Sir Ian McKellen has been critical of British comedian Matt Lucas for his portrayal of homosexual characters – because he fears the camp comedy sketches fuel prejudices. The openly …

Gay actor Sir Ian McKellen has been critical of British comedian Matt Lucas for his portrayal of homosexual characters – because he fears the camp comedy sketches fuel prejudices.

The openly gay Lucas pokes fun at homosexuality in hit TV show “Little Britain,” playing a flamboyant Welshman who dresses in tight latex clothing and proudly proclaims himself “the only gay in the village.”

But McKellen thinks such television skits only serve to publicize offensive stereotypes.

In a talk with drama students in Suffolk, England, he says, “I have to confess that I am a little disquieted at times by the way that gays are portrayed, particularly on television. Something like Little Britain is not particularly helpful. I know Matt Lucas will say that he is gay and it is not offensive but I don’t think it gets the right message across. If you are gay you don’t have to be camp.”

And the veteran star wants the word “gay” to be dropped altogether in a bid to curb prejudices: “The word gay has become used as a derogatory term and this is something which education can help to resolve. Either that or we choose another word to describe ourselves. I rather like another G word – glorious.

“People come to know themselves at different times. I was 49 before I understood who I was. I think that if the world had been different when I was young, then I might have had the courage to come out sooner.”

Chris Brown has denied he insulted hip-hop mogul Jay-Z in an online rant during the recent American Music Awards – insisting his comments were blown “out of proportion.”

The R&B singer posted the word “cornball” on his Twitter.com blog as the rapper accepted his trophy for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist at the November 23 ceremony.

Brown removed the message from his page when he was flooded with inquiries from fans demanding to know whether he was talking about Jay-Z.

The singer was shocked when the story hit headlines and he’s now spoken out to insist he never meant to insult the rapper.

He tells U.S radio station Sirius Satellite Radio, “My Twitter didn’t get hacked, people blew it out of proportion. I was also commenting on certain things going on the AMAs but I was still Tweeting randomly about what was going on. Everybody was like ‘Oh he’s making an excuse.’ I just said ‘cornball.’ I wasn’t talking about homie (Jay-Z) at all.

“At that moment, I started seeing the comments, ‘Oh you talking about Jay? You talking about Jay?’ I was like hell nah, then I said let me delete this before this gets out proportion. I don’t need no problems right now, I don’t need no more people cussing me out.

“They blew it up and I was like man, whatever.”

And Brown is adamant he isn’t feuding with the “Big Pimpin'” hitmaker, following rumors they fell out after the singer’s February fight with his girlfriend, Jay-Z’s protege, Rihanna.

Brown adds, “I never really talked to homie (Jay-Z). It ain’t no beefs, I just get my money and he gets his.”

Apega/WENN.com “Austin Powers” star Seth Green is surprised by the commotion he and model girlfriend Clare Grant caused after they were caught dancing provocatively at the American Music Awards. Green …

“Austin Powers” star Seth Green is surprised by the commotion he and model girlfriend Clare Grant caused after they were caught dancing provocatively at the American Music Awards.

Green was filmed grinding against the towering beauty during a performance at the 2009 ceremony last Sunday, surprising fans that didn’t know about the long-term romance.

And now the comedian admits he can’t escape questioning about how he landed such a pretty blond on his arm.

He explains, “That (was) me and my girlfriend just having fun. That’s Clare, she’s awesome. We’ve been going out for a while and (have) been pretty public about it. I’m surprised it’s gotten so much attention like this.”

WENN.com Damon Albarn is determined to make his upcoming Gorillaz album the best ever – because he has been inspired by his successful reunion with Blur this summer. The Britpop pioneers thrilled fans …

Damon Albarn is determined to make his upcoming Gorillaz album the best ever – because he has been inspired by his successful reunion with Blur this summer.

The Britpop pioneers thrilled fans as they returned to the stage for a string of gigs, including a headline slot at Britain’s legendary Glastonbury music festival, over the summer.

Albarn halted his work with the virtual band to concentrate on the Blur reunion, but he admits the concerts have spurred him on to improve his work with Gorillaz.

In an interview with guardian.co.uk, he says, “That was really strange because it was a very disciplined time. I stopped drinking entirely. I stopped making this Gorillaz record, which has been all-consuming, for three months as well, because I’d got to a point where there was no way I could do that and that (Blur reunion) at the same time. And bit-by-bit we got back up to the level we were at when we were at our prime…

“I enjoyed it, I loved every second of it, it was incredibly emotional, there was a real resonance… But when it finished it was like, ‘Well, we’ve all got to get on with our lives now.’ It was a really nice holiday, a real treat, a real honor to be able to experience. You can’t underestimate the feeling of 120,000 people at Glastonbury just singing every word back to you. It’s an incredible feeling. It’s unbelievable.

“The thing that’s come out of it maybe is that I’ve worked a lot harder making my lyrics and my melodies clear on this Gorillaz album. That’s probably what has come out of this summer’s experience.”